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Few days have passed after we left the mountains behind us and eventually came to the seaside. We decided, that our home base for next days will be Kobuleti - a small town located some 20 km north of Batumi. Although we've spent most of the time just lying on a beach, sunbathing and swimming in the sea, I've found enough time to find and visit the local stadium, named Chele Arena, in honour of famous local player, Revaz Chelebadze.
The capacity of this stadium, constructed in 1967, currently is said to be around 3800, located at two opposite stands. Most probably, during Soviet era, also the arc on the north side has been used, and the capacity was bigger.
The main, western, stand was composed of, approximately, 1900 seats divided between two sets of 880, with flag patterns of Georgia and Ajara (the autonomous region, where Kobuleti is situated), and a small mini-sector of 120 all-white seats.
The stands on the eastern stand were all-blue.
We could easily enter the stadium, take the seat,
enjoy the evening
- and even enter the ground itself.
Unfortunately after our visit the stadium was neglected for quite a long time, and the local team has been playing its home matches in Poti, Lanchkhuti, Zugdidi or Batumi. It seems however, that at the moment it meets the standards of the National League 2 and there's a chance that the fans won't need to travel, if they want to support the local team.
The local club history:
After the II WW, there were football teams in Kobuleti, being either a municipal or kolkhoz team. The oldest informations about the current club, named Shukura ("The Lighthouse") date back to 1960, when the team appeared in the GSSR top division. Its biggest success in the Soviet times was in 1968, when the team has been playing in the B-Class Russian FSSR zone IV (3rd USSR level), finishing on 10th place in the group.
However, this didn't last too long, and very soon Shukura appeared again in the Georgian SSR league. In 1984 the team has been playing even in the GSSR second level, and most probably got relegated even lower.
In the independent Georgia, Shukura has started from the 2nd level. Their appearance record looks like that:
Georgian 1st level: 1993/4, 2014/15-2017. Best place - 10, in 2015/16.
Georgian 2nd level: 1990-1992/3, 1994/5-1995/6, 1998/9-2003/4 (from 2002 to 2004 as FC Kobuleti), 2012/13-2013/14, 2018-
Georgian 3rd level: 1997/98, 2004/5-2006/7, 2011/12
Inactive: 1996/7, 2007/8-2010/11
For some time their reserve team also has been competing in the league structure:
Georgian 3rd level: 2012/13-2013/14, best result - 9th place in the Western Zone.
Georgian 1st level: 1993/4, 2014/15-2017. Best place - 10, in 2015/16.
Georgian 2nd level: 1990-1992/3, 1994/5-1995/6, 1998/9-2003/4 (from 2002 to 2004 as FC Kobuleti), 2012/13-2013/14, 2018-
Georgian 3rd level: 1997/98, 2004/5-2006/7, 2011/12
Inactive: 1996/7, 2007/8-2010/11
For some time their reserve team also has been competing in the league structure:
Georgian 3rd level: 2012/13-2013/14, best result - 9th place in the Western Zone.